■ Is Islam a violent religion?

Muslims were mostly nice and quiet people who practiced their religion in a peaceful way for a long time. But after the destruction of the World Trade Center in New York on September 9th 2001, many Muslims started talking of Muslim domination in public. There are practices in the Qur’an that give motivation for hate and violence. When a neutral reader living in 21st century, is looking for love and not hate, he will be confronted with three moral issues of Muhammad in the Qur’an [1]:

1. Muhammad initiated violence against Jewish tribes

Muhammad initiated aggression by the Muslims against three big Jewish tribes who were no problem for the Muslims. He commanded in 625-627 to behead 600 men, and to sell the women and children as slaves. Muhammad besieged the Banu Qurayza for 25 days until they surrendered. One of Muhammad’s companions decided that "the men should be killed, the property divided, and the women and children taken as captives". Muhammad approved of the ruling. That makes Muhammad responsible for beheading 600 men who were not guilty and not a thread for Muhammad [2].

2. Muhammad commanded palm cutting

He commanded palm cutting of the enemies without justification. The Jews told him that it was forbidden according the Law of Moses (Deuteronomy 20:19). Also for non-Jews in the Middle East in those days there was no justification to cut palms.

3. Muhammad initiated violence against the Meccan caravans.

The Muslims under command of Muhammad murdered the driver of the caravan, plundered the contents, even in the holy months in Arab. It was agreed between the tribes that they would not attack each other during that time. Even the Muslims in Mecca were angry that the killing happened during the sacred months.

Muhammad has proven to be an important statesman and a superior military leader. But to become the greatest spiritual leader of mankind, more qualifications are needed. Muhammad shows important shortcomings on the field of moral practices and original spiritual leadership. Therefore neutral readers looking for love and not hate with perfect examples of following moral guidelines prefer others. There is only one example of spiritual leaders that fully meets the highest moral practices: Jesus Christ. Reading the Gospel, even the best examples of modern history about peaceful revolution, like Gandhi from India, had to admit that in the Gospel is the highest moral standard in Matthew 5, including:

“You have heard that it was said, `You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ ‘But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.’” (Matthew 5: 43-45).

Jesus Christ spoke on the mount: Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect (Matthew 5:48). It is an advice to seek the path in the direction of perfection and the Kingdom of God. Therefore only Jesus Christ meets the qualification to be the number one spiritual leader of mankind, because he was teaching and putting into practice the highest moral guidelines. It is also possible for you to know the truth and enjoy the same blessings Christians have. You can have true love and peace in your heart and you can be an instrument of love and peace in a world full of hate. You only have to make the decision to trust the glorious Jesus Christ as the only way to Paradise:

“You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32).